Well, I once read about how kurt refered to himself as 'the king of illiterature' to mock Coutney when she would rub it in his face, the fact that she was had read a lot more books than he had. And the rest of the song, I think, is not pointing the finger at the people he grew up with, but is revelaing his own warts. In interviews toward the end of his life, a Kurt who is becoming more and more painfully aware of his own short comings of chartactor emerges. Hence, I would be inclined to beleive that this song is a minor 'inventory' of defects. I could be wrong...
Yea, I think this has Kurt himself written all through it, but it's also a look at himself through the lens of the media (and in this case, sarcastic/sardonic).
Yea, I think this has Kurt himself written all through it, but it's also a look at himself through the lens of the media (and in this case, sarcastic/sardonic).
It's quite clear he had difficulty making his ideals a reality; the popularity explosion and constant media exposure meant he could not escape from the lies, the contradictions - even if some of these were media fabrications; and some of the contradictions, part of the media persona he created himself.
"...and very nice. If you ever need anything..."
he was a nice, caring guy, and yet selfish and insular - both are...
It's quite clear he had difficulty making his ideals a reality; the popularity explosion and constant media exposure meant he could not escape from the lies, the contradictions - even if some of these were media fabrications; and some of the contradictions, part of the media persona he created himself.
"...and very nice. If you ever need anything..."
he was a nice, caring guy, and yet selfish and insular - both are true.
I think this, and the "too busy acting like I'm not naive" is a pretty good description of the lengths kind people will go to so they do not get used and abused - and hence another contradiction. I also think it's a sarcastic (and self-immolating) remark about the "punk rock ethic".
The chorus is chilling.
--
I think that kurt was probably aware of other interpretations of these lyrics - as an attack on other people/society - that others have mentioned, and that in a sense he intended these also, but I feel that the real drive behind the lyrics is <i>against</i> himself, though never with total sincerity.
Well, I once read about how kurt refered to himself as 'the king of illiterature' to mock Coutney when she would rub it in his face, the fact that she was had read a lot more books than he had. And the rest of the song, I think, is not pointing the finger at the people he grew up with, but is revelaing his own warts. In interviews toward the end of his life, a Kurt who is becoming more and more painfully aware of his own short comings of chartactor emerges. Hence, I would be inclined to beleive that this song is a minor 'inventory' of defects. I could be wrong...
Yea, I think this has Kurt himself written all through it, but it's also a look at himself through the lens of the media (and in this case, sarcastic/sardonic).
Yea, I think this has Kurt himself written all through it, but it's also a look at himself through the lens of the media (and in this case, sarcastic/sardonic).
It's quite clear he had difficulty making his ideals a reality; the popularity explosion and constant media exposure meant he could not escape from the lies, the contradictions - even if some of these were media fabrications; and some of the contradictions, part of the media persona he created himself. "...and very nice. If you ever need anything..." he was a nice, caring guy, and yet selfish and insular - both are...
It's quite clear he had difficulty making his ideals a reality; the popularity explosion and constant media exposure meant he could not escape from the lies, the contradictions - even if some of these were media fabrications; and some of the contradictions, part of the media persona he created himself. "...and very nice. If you ever need anything..." he was a nice, caring guy, and yet selfish and insular - both are true.
I think this, and the "too busy acting like I'm not naive" is a pretty good description of the lengths kind people will go to so they do not get used and abused - and hence another contradiction. I also think it's a sarcastic (and self-immolating) remark about the "punk rock ethic".
The chorus is chilling.
-- I think that kurt was probably aware of other interpretations of these lyrics - as an attack on other people/society - that others have mentioned, and that in a sense he intended these also, but I feel that the real drive behind the lyrics is <i>against</i> himself, though never with total sincerity.